Over 4,000 ice bears at Ostend
Over 4,000 people braved the cold on Saturday and took part in the annual New Year’s dip into the waters of the North Sea at Ostend on Saturday. The figure is a thousand up on the year.
Red Cross workers were on hand on the beach as the thousands of participants rushed into the sea. Fortunately no medical assistance was needed and nobody suffered any symptoms of hypothermia.
There had been doubts whether the event, known locally as ‘Ice bearing’, could go ahead but in the event the authorities gave the green light on Saturday morning. “There’s a slight northerly blowing” said Burgomaster Bart Tommelein (Flemish liberal) “but everybody’s safety is guaranteed”.
Opinions were divided on whether it was 'cold', 'not cold' or 'too cold'. Mayor Tommelein was in attendance but failed to enter the water pleading a need to coordinate the event and acknowledging that for him it was simply too cold.
